Generally, when people and businesses have the discussion about water treatment for health and safety, they are referring to the health and safety of the human beings in the household. However, pets have become increasingly important members of peoples’ families. Can contaminated water cause issues for Fluffy or Fido? ABSOLUTELY!

Many of the water-borne illnesses that can make humans sick can either infect animals directly or have variants that can infect animals and make them sick. E.coli, Cryptosporidium, and Giardia can affect our pets just as seriously as they can us, and our pets can get them from the water just as easily as we can. Let’s look at these illnesses and how they can affect our furry friends.

E.Coli
E.coli is a bacteria that is normally carried in the intestinal tracts of warm-blooded animals, including humans, cats, dogs, and others. However, when the levels of this bacteria are high, or a particularly dangerous strain is introduced (through drinking contaminated water, for example), E.coli can have devastating effects on pets. The symptoms are similar in dogs and cats, and often include:
• Depression
• Dehydration
• Lack of appetite
• Vomiting
• Rapid heart rate
• Weakness/lethargy
• Watery Diarrhea

It might not be obvious right away if Fido or Fluffy is sick, but once the symptoms get more severe, the illness can become very dangerous and potentially life-threatening. This is especially the case for immuno-compromised, very old, or very young animals. When an E.coli infection is present, it can increase the severity of other illnesses, such as parvovirus in dogs and calicivirus in cats. Diarrhea and dehydration in these more vulnerable animals is especially dangerous and should be treated by a qualified veterinarian. The illness is especially devastating to puppies and kittens, so those breeding dogs or running catteries need to be especially careful with E.coli infections.

Baby animals are especially vulnerable to illness.

Giardia
Giardia cysts infect humans, but they can also infect cats and dogs. In animals, Giardia can remain asymptomatic, meaning it doesn’t show adverse effects. Because of this, animals that carry the infection can unwittingly pass it to other pets and humans in the household, causing illness. Because the cysts pass in stool, a lack of proper care and sterilization can perpetuate the infection and increase the chances of it passing to other species in the household. It’s certainly hard to clean up after something you don’t even know is there!

When Giardia does present symptoms, it often starts as diarrhea, but can quickly turn into bloody, watery diarrhea, which then leads to dehydration, as well as digestive and malabsorption issues. It’s especially dangerous in extremely young puppies or kittens, as well as in older or immuno-compromised animals.

Most treatments for Giardia will only remove the cysts from passing out through the feces, and do nothing to remove the infection from the intestinal tract. Most infections will eventually resolve themselves, thanks to the animal’s immune system, but those pets most at risk may have a much longer recovery time.

Cryptosporidium
Of all of the water-borne diseases that can affect pets, Cryptosporidium is one of the most serious. Vets often refer to a Crypto infection as “coccidia”, however it is not technically a coccidia infection, as medications for this illness have no effect on Cryptosporidium. There are many species of Cryptosporidium, some being human-specific (Cryptosporidium hominis), and some specific to animals. Generally speaking, carnivores such as dogs or cats will become infected with the isospora species. Livestock (such as goats, sheep, and cattle) in infected by the elmeria species. These species do not usually transfer to other species of animals.

Symptoms of Cryptosporidium in pets can include fever, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Once infected, Cryptosporidium can become a self-perpetuating infection. Animals do not need to drink contaminated water to become re-infected, as one of the two types of cysts produced by the microorganism specifically re-infects the host and does not leave the body.

Treatment for Cryptosporidium is extremely difficult. No medication can be described as highly effective, though two main medications are generally prescribed: Paromomycin, which can be effective but highly toxic to the kidneys; Nitazoxanide, which can be somewhat effective but causes nausea and diarrhea.

Cryptosporidium is especially dangerous for young animals. It’s been called the scourge of the dairy industry, and is one of the most common causes of calf death. People who breed dogs or run catteries should be especially careful. Animals that are older or immune-compromised are also at a high risk of serious illness or death from Crypto infections. Humans who are immuno-compromised CAN contract crypto infections from animals, and for these people, it should be considered a potentially life-threatening illness.

What can you do to protect your pets?
You can protect your pets the same way you can protect your family, by pro-actively treating your drinking water. This is especially important if you are on a private well. Chemical water treatment can change the taste and smell of your water, making it more unpalatable for animals – even more than it can for you! Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection is a highly effective way to remove potential microbiological contaminants from water without adding chemicals that can change the taste or smell of your water. UV deactivates 99.9% of microbes from the water, and without the risk of disinfection byproducts. For more information about how to protect your family with UV, visit www.viqua.com, or find a dealer in your area using our Find A Dealer locator. Fluffy and Fido are depending on you!

]]>http://viqua.com/blog/safe-water-protects-your-pets-too/feed/0VIQUA: 8 Great Things about Water Found on the Web #2http://viqua.com/blog/water-great-things/
http://viqua.com/blog/water-great-things/#commentsWed, 22 Oct 2014 18:56:40 +0000http://viqua.com/blog/?p=1029

This is our second 8 great things about water found on the web. The first Great Things about Water Found on the Internetis here. It has some water towers, a toilet washing machine, an island made of water bottles, the happiest elephant ever and so much more.

These amphibious vehicles, almost right out of James Bond movies, have style, pizzazz. And no claustrophobic will ever set foot in them. Some of the first amphibious vehicles hail from 1770 and now some amphibious vehicles can run 160 km/h on land and 50 km/h on water, and take a mere six seconds to transform from sportscar to jetboat. Transformer-style fashion.

These octolegged micro-animals are quite remarkable. They can withstand almost absolute zero temperatures and above the boiling point by entering a resting stage, a phenomenon known as cryptobiosis.. They can go without food or water for more than 10 years . They have been found on stone walls, roofs, moss and lichen, under layers of solid ice, in ocean sediments, hot springs, ponds and lakes. You could be drinking them. UV water treatment inactivates 99.99% of microorganisms.

“Among the items people thought it was wise to flush down toilets, or dump in various manholes, were a pair of pants found in a pumping station, a goldfish, a snake at Dunfermline sewage works, 2×4 timber, a dead sheep, false teeth, golf balls, a credit card (which had been stolen from its owner and flushed down a pub toilet), a fax machine and a large Winnie the Pooh teddy.” Read More

OK, so not great things about water, but really horrible, scary things about water. A legionella infection can happen almost anywhere. This tragedy happened when a woman went on vacation in Tuscany. The great thing is UV inactivates legionella read more on the VIQUA blog. If you’re traveling get a VIQUA Ultra SteriPen. It won’t protect you in the shower, but your drinking water will be safe.

“For a while, to many people, legionnaire’s disease had an almost mythical status, considered little more than scare stories about toxic water in taps. It remains a very real danger.” UV water treatment deactivates Legionella.

The VIQUA Steripen Ultra Review

Hi VIQUA,

On our most recent trip, we had the opportunity to test a new piece of equipment; the Viqua personal UV water purifier pen. Some of you may note that it looks very much like the SteriPEN Ultra. In fact is the very same filter. Bonus for quality!

We at Texas Avid Outdoors are constantly traveling around the state to take advantage of the bountiful outdoor resources. As time has passed we have purposefully tried to lighten our load that we carry with us. In this instance, instead of carrying our water along with us on a weekend canoe trip down the Colorado River, we decided to try out our water filters. While we have a selection of water filters available for our use, we are always excited to try new products. For this trip we would be testing the Viqua personal UV water filter provided by Preferred Pump in Round Rock Texas.

Right out of the box you can tell it’s a quality product. While I have played with the SteriPEN models before, I had never had the opportunity to use one myself. The manufacturer claim is that it removes 99% of bacteria, protozoa and virus that cause water-borne illnesses. Very important for six people depending on water from the river we are paddling through for drinking water!

It is recommended that only clear water be used for the UV filter so some pre-filtering is necessary depending on the quality of the water source. Don’t expect to be able to use water out of some scummy backwoods pond without first pre-filtering it. SteriPEN makes a pre-filter that fits over any bottle with a Nalgene sized mouth. You pour water through the pre-filter and then use the UV pen with the filtered water. For our use, we had an older MSR filter that we used as pre-filter.

The process itself was easy. The UV pen came pre-charged out of the box with a neoprene carrying case and USB cord for recharging the pen. The internal lithium-ion battery can be charged via any USB charging device. For us, that’s a big bonus as we typically carry Goal Zero solar products that will allow us to charge it indefinitely in the field.

So now to the test! Using the MSR filter, we pumped water directly out of the river into a container. Second, we inserted the UV pen and turned it on, being careful to set it to the amount of water that we were purifying. It was easy to tell it was finished due to the little LED display that gives you a little smiley face when the process is done.

Once it was finished, we toasted and drank up! It tasted just fine and we are all happy to say that we made it through the weekend with no ill effects. It is always refreshing to test and use a product that does exactly what it’s supposed to do. I give this product my full endorsement and furthermore it will be a permanent addition to our gear.

Keep in mind, though, this is not just for the outdoorsman. The UV pen works great for when you are traveling to a place where the water quality might be questionable such as traveling abroad. Additionally, it works as a great back up for your home in cases of emergency. With a listed 8,000 1-liter treatments, you can expect to have this around for awhile! So if you think you might be in a situation where having access to good clean water may be difficult, by all means go out and get one! You won’t regret it.

Texas Avid Outdoors was started as way to share with our family and friends our love of the outdoors and everything associated with it. A few years back, five guys with different backgrounds started going on camping trips together, unified by one thing – our passion for the outdoors. Since then, we have expanded what we do, where we go and what our long term goals are. We invite you to come along for the ride. We don’t yet know where this will lead us but it sure will be fun!

Your Trusted Source for Water Well Drilling & Pump Products. For 30 years, Preferred Pump & Equipment has been one of the nation’s largest and most trusted wholesale distributors of domestic water systems. We count among our thousands of satisfied customers, water well drillers, pump installers, dealers, and contractors… all individuals who know the value of a hard day’s work and the worth of a dollar… just like you! With branches across the country staffed by highly motivated and knowledgeable staff, it’s little wonder that Preferred Pump & Equipment has become an industry leader.

The Tru-D SmartUVC Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection system used to sterilize EBOLA from rooms much like VIQUA products sterilize water.

A US company has deployed its latest weapon against the spread of Ebola in Africa, using a method similar to how we can protect water from viruses, bacteria, and pathogens. Two ultraviolet light (UV) robots were delivered to two Republic of Liberia hospitals with the intent to help eradicate virus spread by using similar technology to our residential UV water systems.

The TRU-D™ (Total Room Ultraviolet Disinfector) is a UV disinfection device which applies lethal doses of UV-C light to eliminate pathogens in rooms. VIQUA’s UV water systems work a similar way – effectively engineered to use the correct measured UV dose to inactivate bacteria, viruses, and pathogens like E.coli, legionella, and cryptosporidium, but in water. Ebola is not waterborne.

Inventor of the TRU-D™, Dr. Jeffrey L. Deal, says, “We developed the UV room disinfection technology to combat the devastating effects of hospital-acquired infections. Unlike many diseases, Ebola strikes hospital workers more than any other group, making it the ultimate in potentially deadly hospital-acquired infections.”

With home water solutions, you install the system at the point of entry for the whole home or at a specific tap. VIQUA General Manager, Frank Profiti, says, “Hospitals currently use our water disinfection systems to provide safe, clean water. Using UV technology to help eradicate the spread of Ebola will further help educate people about UV applications. You can’t get Ebola from water, but you can get other potentially deadly illnesses. That’s why there are dozens of boil water advisories across the US and Canada daily. And, even more concerning, our research shows that people in the US do not test their well water regularly. While UV technology has been around for years, many homeowners are still unaware of UV systems being a safe alternative to other disinfection options, without adding harsh chemicals to their water, like Chlorine.”

With TRU-D, health care leaders in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Saudi Arabia are eliminating pathogens like Ebola, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), influenza, norovirus, Clostridium difficile, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, etc., in all types of health care settings, including isolation wards, patient rooms, operating rooms, surgical suites, intensive care units, emergency rooms, public areas, and ambulances. The ultraviolet units were just released from a 28-month-long CDC-funded study conducted by the Duke University Prevention Epicenter Program and were deemed effective. To date, More than 200 TRU-Ds have been deployed to disinfect hospitals across the U.S. and internationally.

VIQUA’s UVMAX ultraviolet water disinfection system inactives 99.99% of all waterborne microrganisms.

VIQUA is a leading organization committed to bringing safe water solutions to people’s homes and businesses. Since 2000, there have been more than 500,000 of our systems installed globally. Our two main brands of ultraviolet water disinfection are Sterilight™ and UVMAX™ for whole home, point of use (one tap), and light commercial, such as restaurants, hospitals and schools.

]]>http://viqua.com/blog/uv-has-been-deployed-to-protect-healthcare-workers-against-ebola-why-arent-you-using-it-to-protect-your-familys-water/feed/0Aging Parents: Water with Carehttp://viqua.com/blog/aging-parents-water-with-care/
http://viqua.com/blog/aging-parents-water-with-care/#commentsMon, 14 Jul 2014 14:52:08 +0000http://viqua.com/blog/?p=919As of 2011, the Baby Boomers have started to turn 65 and will rapidly add to the numbers of North Americans classed as “seniors”. In the US alone, this group will surge from 13% of the population in 2010 to nearly 20% by the year 2030. And as they have at every age, the Boomer segment will have tremendous impact on the economy, healthcare and other services and even housing. According to a survey by the National Association of Realtors in 2013, 14% of houses (or about 1 in 7) are purchased to serve as multi-generational housing. In a third of the cases the driver relates to caring for aging parents (20%) or simply wanting to spend more time with aging parents (11%). Having older folks move into your home is a wonderful way to stay close and to ensure proper care as time passes. But preparing for co-habitation is not as simple as just providing a room or an in-law suite. There are many things to consider to ensure the health and safety of your loved ones – fundamentals like accessibility, privacy and maintaining independence, where possible, are crucial.

On the health front, it will be important to watch for nutritional pitfalls. Although appetite is very likely to decrease with age, it is still absolutely necessary to ensure that balanced meals continue to be consumed regularly. An easy cheat from time to time is a liquid meal replacement like Ensure or Boost. As we age, our sense of taste diminishes somewhat. So enjoyment of food may not be the same — possibly decreasing the desire to eat. Eating alone and the challenge of preparing meals for one (or even two) can rob anyone of the enjoyment of a meal. So make a point of trying to share meals occasionally. It’s a good chance to spend some time chatting and understanding how your parent(s) is managing. Where possible, connect in “their” space. This will let you make some casual observations …are they maintaining cleanliness standards (fatigue or loss of mobility may impact here)? Are they taking medications as scheduled (it’s an easy thing to forget – at any age)? Is the milk sitting out on the counter from breakfast (small thing perhaps but could also signal dementia)?

Similarly, as we get older, our bodies start to lose the ability to regulate fluid levels and our sense of thirst may not be as attuned to our needs. Further, the use of prescription medications becomes commonplace and some can increase the risk of dehydration. Helping the seniors in your life manage their fluid intake can be as simple as posting a note on the frig door as a reminder to sip some water every hour or to take a glass of water with meals. A jug of cool water infused with slices of lemon, orange and lime or even cucumber can add to the enjoyment. Though water is the best thing for hydration, coffee and tea – especially – herbal also add some interest. A single serving machine like Keurig or Tassimo is an inexpensive way to make brewing for one quick and simple.

Drinking enough water is key but so too is the quality of the water! Because aging also results in reduced immune function, resistance to common “bugs” like colds and flu will be less. In short, we become more susceptible to infections generally– even from sources we have been exposed to for many years – like drinking water. This will be especially true if your drinking water comes from a private well. Bacteria in water can cause stomach upset and diarrhea which can then lead to dehydration. But even if your home is on “city water”, installing a disinfection system such as an ultraviolet sterilizer provides that extra insurance – safe water at every tap 24/7.

So it’s your turn to be the caregiver. You’ll want to be sure you can provide a comfortable and safe environment. Welcoming Mom and/or Dad into your home is a big step and commitment. Be sure to think through the details and when it comes to water quality and safety…think UV.

]]>http://viqua.com/blog/aging-parents-water-with-care/feed/0Fracking as Feng Shuihttp://viqua.com/blog/fracking-as-feng-shui/
http://viqua.com/blog/fracking-as-feng-shui/#commentsWed, 02 Jul 2014 17:08:37 +0000http://viqua.com/blog/?p=906There’s nothing like a drilling rig setting up in your area to set off alarm bells if you happen to rely on well water.

Some years ago I took an interest in the Eastern practice of Feng Shui. And so I dutifully, assessed the areas of my life I felt I wanted to improve and attempted to arrange and organize my home to direct the energy appropriately. Okay – maybe it was just a rationalization for more decorating but here’s my point. Every time I passed a corner of my home that I had “tweaked”, I was reminded of my needs and the things about which I could no longer remain complacent.

Complacency runs rampant amongst private well owners. Only last month, I completed a study for VIQUA that examined well-owner behaviors in various parts of the USA. Just as I had seen in published studies on a more localized level, there certainly seemed to be a low level of engagement with the whole notion of even testing the well water. Nearly one in three could not even recall when the water had last been tested for bacteria and another 10% said they had NEVER tested their well water for bacteria. Really? Because as I look at the recommended best practices for those same areas, nearly every one of them indicates that testing should be done once a year – for things like bacteria and nitrates at a minimum!! Testing for bacteria – total coliforms, fecal coliforms and e.coli – is one of the basics. So what does it take to get well-owners attention??

Fracking. There’s nothing like a drilling rig setting up in your area to set off alarm bells if you happen to rely on well water. Consider if you will, that the top 10 states based on the number of hydraulic fracturing wells account for a quarter of the private water wells across the USA. And, that there are maybe only 15 states where no fracking is taking place.

As fracking spreads, more jurisdictions are introducing regulations about things like chemical disclosure, minimum set back from water wells and even water testing requirements. In fact, the potential for environmental impact is even prompting complete bans on fracking in some locales. Pre-drill testing is often undertaken so that there is a baseline on water quality should any issue arise. That would seem like a positive. However, there may not be a standardized list of water quality parameters that should be examined and the results follow the money trail. He who pays for the testing (often the drilling company) gets the results first. And the testing will probably only focus on water quality parameters considered likely to be impacted by drilling. What about the water quality basics? What about other dangers like bacteria, nitrates or arsenic that could be present irrespective of any fracking? What happens if the homeowner does not assume the expense of more comprehensive testing?

A study was done by the Centre for Rural Pennsylvania where the shale boom has been particularly impactful. Even though 64 percent of water supply owners in this study received pre-drill water testing by the gas drilling company, many (59%) still decided to pay for their own. So in the end, some 30% of the water supplies were double-tested. The authors concluded that this indicated “some level of distrust of water testing paid for by the gas drilling companies”. Perhaps, it was just an initial spark of ownership and responsibility. Imagine that -going from possibly no testing at all to double-testing simply because a drilling rig appeared.

So what were the results? Before any hydraulic fracturing was done, water supplies failed standards on multiple contaminants. And, no surprise to me, coliform bacteria tops the list. Unfortunately, bacteria-testing was only conducted on about half the wells. Hopefully, these folks took the opportunity to understand the significance of a failed coliform test. In short, it’s an indication that harmful bacteria could readily get into your drinking water supply and make you and your family ill. Here at VIQUA, we know there is a simple fix. A properly–maintained ultraviolet treatment device can protect you 24/7. And of course, ensuring the well itself is in good repair is also necessary.

Parameter

% Failing Standard

Coliform bacteria

33

Turbidity

32

Manganese

27

Iron

20

pH

17

Fecal coliform

8

Lead

7

Arsenic

4

Public concern about potential impacts of fracking on drinking water wells will persist. Although to date, the jury is still out on its actual impact. But if fracking brings awareness to water quality testing then drilling rigs are the Feng Shui fix for well-owner complacency. And that can only be a good thing.

#fracking #USfracking

]]>http://viqua.com/blog/fracking-as-feng-shui/feed/0Water Scarcity: Water Everywhere, and Not a Drop to Drink?http://viqua.com/blog/water-scarcity-water-everywhere-and-not-a-drop-to-drink/
http://viqua.com/blog/water-scarcity-water-everywhere-and-not-a-drop-to-drink/#commentsTue, 27 May 2014 16:49:21 +0000http://viqua.com/blog/?p=898“Will there be a time when this water won’t be available?”

Fifty miles south of the U.S.-Mexico border, the Colorado River’s flow is now reduced by 95% due to overuse and flow-restricting dams. Photo: Peter McBride, from website http://www.thecleanestline.com

In first world countries, we have a bad habit of taking things for granted. One of the most basic, fundamental, and absolutely essential things

we take for granted every day is water. We look around, and we’re surrounded by water. Water flowing in pretty fountains and water features, huge public swimming pools, car washes, industrial processes. Even in our own homes, we take for granted that we will turn on the tap and water will pour forth. We don’t stop to ask ourselves, “Will there be a time when this water won’t be available?”. We don’t question how MUCH water is actually available and usable for us as human beings, or how much will be there for future generations. Oftentimes, the only people concerned about a lack of water are those who have to deal with that lack firsthand. The rest of us float along in our bubble.

The average person in North America uses about 190 liters (50 gallons) of water per day in showering, bathing, flushing the toilet, doing the laundry, and drinking. This water is highly processed and treated to make it safe for human consumption (or potable). Much of the water that’s used every day is NOT used for these purposes. Look around. Every single thing that you can see, that you’re wearing, or that you’re using, requires water in the manufacturing process, or to grow the resources used to make it, and that means less is available for everything else. For example:

To produce a single egg, 450 liters (120 gallons) of water is required.

To produce a day’s food for a family of four, about 25,700 liters (6800 gallons) of water is needed.

If you look outside at the family car, understand that 148,000 liters (39,000 gallons) of water went into its manufacture.

Potable water is being used in massive quantities, and not necessarily for what you think. But why should this concern us? There’s more water where that came from, isn’t there?

Let’s look at some basic facts about water. Around 80% of Earth’s water is surface water. The other 20% is either in groundwater (aquifers), or is in the sky as atmospheric water vapor. Less than 1% of the Earth’s supply of water can be used as drinking water. If you consider that more than 90% of Earth’s freshwater is trapped in ice in Antarctica, you can start to see how the percentages of water that is actually available for us to use is dropping… but our demand is rising.

Much of this demand is on groundwater supplies. Groundwater, trapped below the Earth’s surface in aquifers, serves about 80% of the world’s population. If we consider that up to 4% of groundwater is already polluted and unusable, the amount available for us to use is shrinking.

There are more than 70,000 different water contaminants that have been identified and documented. Many of these contaminants are expensive or difficult (sometimes even impossible) to remove. The amount of available, usable water is decreasing even further as these contaminants infiltrate aquifers and watersheds the world over, leaving those supplies unusable for human consumption. With massive amounts of water being withdrawn every day for agriculture and industry, aquifers are feeling the strain, and indeed, many are at or below crisis levels.

It may seem like a drop in the bucket, but we can make a difference in the way we use water. In North America, we use more water per person than anywhere else in the world. Taking a few simple steps, such as having a bath instead of showering, flushing the toilet less, or installing high-efficiency toilets and dishwashers, or even something as simple as fixing a leaky tap in your home can help to contribute to the solution. Consider using rainwater to water your garden, cutting back on watering the lawn, or using less water when you wash the car. -Support companies and businesses that have sustainable water usage and management practices.

The issue may seem overwhelming, and it might feel like the little we, as individuals, can do won’t make a difference. I choose to believe that every raging flood starts as a tiny drop, and that by creating awareness of the issues, we become vehicles for change. YOU can make a difference, with relatively little impact on your life, one drop at a time. -You can spread the message to your friends and family, at work, and online. You CAN, indeed, make a difference.

]]>http://viqua.com/blog/water-scarcity-water-everywhere-and-not-a-drop-to-drink/feed/0What’s Bugging You this Mother’s Day?http://viqua.com/blog/whats-bugging-you-this-mothers-day/
http://viqua.com/blog/whats-bugging-you-this-mothers-day/#commentsFri, 09 May 2014 20:05:16 +0000http://viqua.com/blog/?p=889“Mommy Bloggers are widespread, but nothing deserves the “ubiquitous” label more than bacteria.”

Driving into work this morning, I was listening to an interview inspired by Mother’s Day. The radio hosts were talking to a Mommy Blogger (apologies for not recalling her name). What amazed me was a statistic that was given indicating that there is something like 4.2 million Mommy Bloggers in North America alone. Wow, I thought. They’re everywhere! They’re ubiquitous! The interviewee went on to describe how very helpful these blog posts can be when caught up in the seemingly endless challenge that is parenting but also how incredibly harsh and hurtful some can turn when your views and objectives are not aligned. Not being a parent I can only imagine. Then I arrive at work and am immersed (pun intended) once again in the world of safe drinking water and ultraviolet water treatment systems and zapping bacteria.

Bacteria. Now those little devils are ubiquitous. As a regular Scrabble player (geek, I know), I have a passion for words. And this is a great one meaning “present, appearing or found everywhere”. And while the Mommy Bloggers are widespread, nothing deserves the “ubiquitous” label more than bacteria. Simply put, these are microscopic living organisms with an incredible talent for survival. But there is absolutely nothing simple about them.

Take for instance, Escherichia coli – affectionately known as E. coli – purportedly the most-studied bacterium and we still don’t know the half of it. [This according to another very interesting blog post I read recently entitled “It came from the faucet”.] There are hundreds of species of E.coli living all around us – in the soil, on the dog, on the countertop you cleaned mere moments ago and yes, quite likely, in your drinking water. In fact, some 40-50 species make a permanent home in our guts. And for the most part that’s not a problem because in the end there are only a few that are dangerous – the pathogens. But change the environment or the balance and watch out! Diarrhea, urinary tract infections, blood stream infections, and more. In 2000, the water supply of a small Ontario community became contaminated with E.coli and campylobacter sickening half the community and sadly resulting in several deaths. An article in the New Yorker, “The E.coli Made Me Do It”, cites a study that examined those infected in the Walkerton Crisis and found a higher incidence of depression and anxiety than in the remaining populace. Seems given the right circumstances, those bad bacteria will get you in oh so many ways.

And how do we respond. Antibiotics – of course. Done. Gone. Not so fast. The World Health Organization just released a report on Antimicrobial Resistance which demonstrates, quite frankly, that the bugs are out-smarting us. I alluded to the talent for survival of bacteria, well add to the list viruses, parasites and fungi – they have all adapted to our drug-based assault and our weapons are becoming less and less effective. This inevitable outcome was predicted by Alexander Fleming – the inventor of penicillin – back in 1945. The microbes continue to adapt but we do not. I was shocked to learn that no new classes of anti-microbial drugs have been developed since the 1980s. I was equally shocked to read the WHO prediction “Without urgent action we are heading for a post-antibiotic era, in which common infections and minor injuries can once again kill”.

The solution it seems is not solely the domain of scientists and the “pharmaceutical giants”. The solution it seems rests with each and every one of us. Stop infections before they start.

Better Hygiene

Access to Clean Drinking Water and Sanitation

Infection Control in Healthcare Facilities

Vaccination.

Let me park on the second one – clean drinking water. While this obviously and absolutely applies to developing nations, it is relevant here in North America too. First, and foremost, to the 15 million or more households that relies on a private water supply. Not testing your well regularly or worse dismissing the presence of coliforms because they are only an “indicator organism” and not themselves harmful is a risky game. They INDICATE that your water supply could readily become contaminated with pathogens. Do you want to take that chance? Engage in proper well stewardship and while I’m ranting, proper septic system maintenance. And then, tip the odds in your favor and install continuous disinfection – like an ultraviolet system.

And for those of us, who sit back and let the municipality “clean” our drinking water. NEWS FLASH. Researchers are proving that the water that leaves the treatment facility is markedly different than that which runs from your household tap. And to be clear, we’re talking about the array of micro-organisms present. But flowing through those countless (and now aging and deteriorating) miles of pipes was bound to be a risk and hence the mandated chlorine residual. Only bacteria can evade a disinfectant like chlorine – by slipping inside a protozoan cyst for example. Again, the best place to treat your water is in your home. A point-of-entry ultraviolet system inactivates any pathogens present and protects your family at every tap.

Bacteria – the good, the bad and the ugly. They’re all out there. Surrounding us, like the many voices of the Mommy Bloggers. Fighting anti-microbial resistance is paramount. Preventing infections, as with a safe water supply, is one action for all. But should those bugs get the best of you…remember when taking antibiotics, complete your prescription. And that too, is a message I hope will be spread throughout the Mom Blogosphere.

]]>http://viqua.com/blog/whats-bugging-you-this-mothers-day/feed/0Was it the Water?http://viqua.com/blog/was-it-the-water/
http://viqua.com/blog/was-it-the-water/#commentsMon, 28 Apr 2014 15:20:34 +0000http://viqua.com/blog/?p=879Is your water making you sick?

Digestive upset, stomach cramps, diarrhea. It’s maybe over just as quickly as it started. Clinically, this is called acute gastrointestinal illness (AGI) and is caused by bacteria like E. coli and other microorganisms. Typically when this happens to you, your first thought is likely “must have been something I ate” not “must have been something I drank”. The exception being if you happened to be on vacation, in say, Mexico at the time!

Last year the Drinking Water Research Foundation (DWRF) published a paper which would have you believing that something you drank – tap water in particular – is becoming a more frequent cause of AGI. The paper “Microbial Health Risks of Regulated Drinking Waters in the United States” points out that some 16 million cases of AGI are attributed to tap water each year and argues the many reasons that tap water is riskier than bottled water. And I agree with them. They lay out a litany of issues with public water systems in the US that make the possibility of getting sick from your tap water ever more likely. With this I agree. They would suggest that bottled water is the solution. Here I beg to differ. I would suggest that the solution is really about ownership – taking individual responsibility for the water you and your family consume.

If you are a private well owner that message about ownership gets repeated to you as often as the seasons change. Only you are responsible for the quality and safety of that well water. Test your water, at least annually, for total coliforms and nitrates. And take appropriate redress. In the case of coliforms, that would involve shock chlorination of the well and your household plumbing. And more and more, applying constant disinfection- like an ultraviolet water treatment system- to protect against the likelihood of recurrence.

That’s the case where the well is supplying a single family or fewer than 5 households. However, the vast majority of Americans are served water by the 51,000 community water system (CWS) ranging in size from those serving fewer than 1000 people to systems serving huge numbers of people like that of New York City. Across that spectrum, the required number of tests for total coliforms – tests that confirm the microbial safety of the water – increases as the population served increases. All this to ensure that the water produced is safe to consume. Not to say that things can’t go wrong. They can. And they do. And if there’s reason to believe any of the water has left the treatment facility it results in a BOIL WATER alert.

Each year, the EPA publishes a summary of what went wrong; how many times; and where. The most recent “Fiscal Year 2011 Drinking Water and Groundwater Statistics” documents the number of events that might have resulted in a boil water alert as violations of the Total Coliform Rule. Even at a glance, it is easy to see that the smaller water systems experience the most challenges. This dynamic was even identified back in 2009 in a Yale Symposium stating “There continues to be chronic problems with small public systems that are associated with a high percentage of water-borne outbreaks in the US, Canada, and worldwide.”

Sometimes the violation is actually failing to conduct the requisite number of tests for total coliforms. In which case one has to wonder how they know if they need to issue a boil water alert if they never did the test in the first place??!??! Nevertheless, a process exists to drive the appropriate level of testing to ensure public safety. Likewise bottled water manufacturers are expected to conduct the appropriate number of coliform tests to guarantee the microbial safety of their product.

But now the water stories diverge. Water bottlers place their product into a closed system (a bottle) which is delivered to retail where you, the consumer, ultimately take ownership of it until you break the seal and drink it. For a CWS, the closed system for delivery is the vast network of underground distribution pipes that delivers water from the treatment plant to homes. The lid or seal, is what is referred to as chlorine residual – a mandated level of chlorine that is expected to maintain the purity of the water in that closed system until you open the tap and drink it. But can this system still be relied upon? Is it truly a closed system?

In the US, that network of pipes spans more than 1 billion miles, much of which is nearing or is at the end of its’ useful life and estimates for fixing it run more than $500 Million USD over the next 25 years. Experts have identified the infrastructure deficiencies that are most likely to risk a disease outbreak. Among them, the most visible, is a water main break. (Another reason community water systems would issue a boil water alert.) More than 700 water mains break each and every day exposing the pipes and the water within to potential microbial contamination. Just for a city like Philadelphia, the headlines shouted about water main breaks 5 times in the first 13 days of this year. Are there more breaks in store? Very likely. When you consider that up to 25% of treated water is lost through leaks in the system, it is easy to imagine an increasing number of breaks. In fact, the EPA has recognized the risk in the distribution system and with the advent of the Revised Total Coliform Rule, 2013, is attempting to monitor the distribution system as well.

Clearly water infrastructure in the USA is in a precarious state. Ignoring the enormous price tag and the question of who pays, can anyone afford to wait 25 years??!?! Let’s look at the risks in the interim. As the DWRF paper points out, data from the CDC’s passive drinking water surveillance system indicates the incidence of public water supply waterborne disease outbreaks has actually decreased since the 1980s. This is likely the result of better water treatment protocols. However, the number of outbreaks due to public water supply distribution system issues and failures has not decreased. Meaning more and more, the finger is pointed at the distribution system.

According to the DWRF, as stated at the outset, your solution is bottled water. Sure. That is one form of ownership. But not without its toll on your pocket book and the environment. And you still pay for the water delivered to your home which means — whether you drink it or not –as a utility customer, you will bear your share of the burden of infrastructure repair.

Now, what if you took ownership by installing a point-of-entry (POE) water treatment system? You are now using the water you are paying for and simply polishing it to account for factors or risks outside your control. For example, a POE ultraviolet device would treat for microorganisms like E. coli and Cryptosporidium that can cause AGI. Effectively, you have created a new closed system –your home. Where you can feel good about the water your family consumes from every tap.

In market research, after presenting a concept or new information, we frequently follow with a question that explores intended action. Regarding the facts above, the question would be “Now, knowing everything you know about water system performance and water infrastructure challenges, how likely would you be to install a POE ultraviolet treatment device in your home?” If I was answering this question, my answer might depend on where I was living…am I in a rural setting with a private well or am I in a large city centre? Then again, if I wanted insurance that I would never have to wonder “was it the water?”, the answer would be “Sign me up”.

Inspired by Earth Day 2014, I searched the internet for some really amazing articles about some of our landscapes. Grab your bucket list and a pen and click ahead. Earth Day 2014: Real Places You Need to See to Believe.

From blood red water and strange islands made of borax, to exploding lakes, there are some pretty bizarre place in our world.

The rocks you are standing on get recycled. Volcanoes spit them out as magma, they dry, harden, and after a very long time either get sucked down again by plate tectonics or get pushed towards Earth’s core by a fresh layer of rocks above.

#24. Standing on that equator you would be spinning around Earth’s center at 1000 miles per hour. At the poles, however, you would be standing still (and turning in a circle).

#18. Gravity is not distributed equally. Places like Hudson Bay in Canada actually have less gravity than other regions of the globe. This is due to the fact that there is less land mass in that part of the planet.

#8. 70 percent of the planet is covered in ocean but humans have only explored 5 percent of it.

While we have identified 212,906 marine species, there are possibly 25 million more that we DON’T know about.

While the coldest place on Earth is Antarctica (-100 degrees F), the coldest spot was recorded on July 21, 1983 at Vostok Station in Anarctica, where sensors recorded –128.6 degrees F. The hottest spot recorded? On Sept. 13, 1922 El Azizia, Libya registered 136 degrees F.

The Waitomo Glow-worm Cave is home to thousands of glow-worms that light up the cave ceiling like a starry night sky.

The river on the left is the Rhone, which is just exiting Lake Lehman. The river on the right is the Arve, which receives water from the many glaciers of the Chamonix valley (mainly the Mer de Glace) before flowing north-west into the Rhone on the west side of Geneva, where its much higher level of silt brings forth a striking contrast between the two rivers.

Antelope Canyon is located on the Navajo Reservation near Page, Arizona. The unique erosion of the Navajo Sandstone is formed mostly from flash floods, giving the canyon its stunning appearance.